Dealing with knee pain can be challenging. It can be hard or even impossible to complete everyday tasks. A knee injury can cause consistent discomfort or an inability to do common tasks like walking and driving. Thankfully, this condition may qualify you for disability benefits. If you are not sure whether or not your knee issue qualifies for disability benefits, speak with an attorney at The Law Office of Nancy L. Cavey. Your attorney can answer any questions you may have about disability benefits, explain your policy, and fight for the disability benefits you are entitled to.
Disabling Knee Conditions and Injuries
As a complicated structure, the knee is often subjected to pain. Here are some knee problems that qualify for disability benefits:
- Long-term knee conditions. These conditions usually lead to chronic pain and require prolonged treatment. Also, you may not be able to go to work for a while because of these knee problems. Thankfully, you may pursue short-term disability benefits for them. Long-term knee conditions include gout, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and tendonitis.
- Short-term knee problems. These conditions include torn meniscus, chondromalacia, ACL and MCL tears, and bursitis. They may qualify for long-term disability benefits.
- Knee replacements. You may need knee replacement surgery because of knee osteoarthritis. Usually, this procedure is the last resort and is used if medication and physical therapy are not successful. Knee surgery can be partial or total, which limits your activity for a few months. Although a lot of knee replacements are successful, some patients do not fully recover from their surgery. If you and your physician think you can’t work following a knee replacement surgery, talk to them about disability.
Knowing If You Qualify for Disability Benefits for Knee Issues
Before you file a disability claim for a knee condition or injury, you must get a diagnosis from your physician. You need accurate medical documentation to support your disability claim. Also, you must speak with an attorney who specializes in long-term disability cases. Your attorney can translate the terms and conditions of your policy into a language you can understand. They can assess your claim and gather evidence to prove it. They can provide you with practical advice and help you secure maximum benefits. If they think your knee pain or condition qualifies for disability benefits, they can file a long-term disability claim with your insurance company. They will gather medical evidence, submit paperwork to a claim adjuster, and negotiate for you.
